Good day, landlord.
From your description, I can sense your anxiety and concern about procrastination, as well as some internal conflicts related to buying things. It's encouraging to see that you're aware of these issues and taking steps to address them.
1. Procrastination is not necessarily a problem of time management or a moral issue, but rather a complex psychological problem. Fundamentally, procrastination is a problem of how a person gets along with themselves. Surveys show that a significant majority of people, around 91 out of 100, have procrastination problems, which suggests that it's a common challenge.
2. Could I perhaps inquire as to what the possible causes of procrastination might be?
The reason for procrastination is often complex and multifaceted. It can be traced back to an underlying fear of failure and an avoidance of facing something even more painful. Many of us may find ourselves choosing to endure the discomfort of procrastination over the risk of failure.
By postponing tasks, we can avoid negative feelings and outcomes that we find challenging to face. Because we don't act immediately, we have the opportunity to find reasons for why we haven't yet succeeded, which allows us to keep trying.
It seems that procrastination has become a way of life for many of us. We tend to procrastinate and then procrastinate some more. In a way, it has become our "protective color" and our self-defense mechanism.
3. The underlying logic of procrastination
A. The influence of parents
In the view of the two authors of "The Psychology of Procrastination," it could be said that pressure, suspicion, control, attachment, and alienation from the family—these five tendencies—may often lead to the formation of our procrastination. Psychologist Adler once said, "The lucky are cured by their childhood, the unfortunate spend their whole lives curing their childhood."
a. It is not uncommon for parents in achievement-driven families to exert pressure on their children. This is often referred to in popular parlance as the "chicken-and-duck" approach, where parents encourage their children to excel in every way.
It can be said that the most common negative emotion is that this can sometimes make children fearful of failure and the potential consequences of making the wrong decision. This can sometimes result in avoidance of hard work through procrastination.
b. Parents who express doubt or negate their children's abilities in any way may unintentionally influence their children's choices and self-confidence. For example, statements like "girls are naturally bad at math" can have a damaging effect on a child's perception of their abilities, potentially influencing their choice of profession and overall self-confidence.
If children are exposed to this kind of doubting message on a regular basis, they may come to believe it. This could result in them becoming reluctant to take part in activities that they previously enjoyed.
c. The tendency to control is manifested in parents who may handle all the details of their children's lives and studies, and arrange everything for them. This can sometimes result in the child feeling that they have no right to an independent self.
As he matures, he may exhibit behaviors such as procrastination and refusal to comply with requests from his parents, or he may challenge the authority of strict figures in his life, such as leaders.
In families with a predominantly attachment tendency, children may not be encouraged to create their own lives. Could this be why many people have an "addictive" dependence on their parents?
I wonder if we might consider why there are so many "mama's boys" who are actually "mama's men."
It is possible that excessive protection and care from parents may result in children lacking the confidence to live independently. They may even perceive leaving home to pursue their own lives, careers and interests as a form of "defection" from the family.
As a result, they convince themselves that remaining in the comfort of their parents' care is the best option. However, in essence, this is nothing more than procrastination.
It would seem that a tendency to alienate oneself may occur in families where there is a lack of mutual care and emotional connection between family members. It is possible that parents and children are emotionally detached from each other, which could result in children feeling isolated and helpless when they encounter trouble.
As children grow up, they may sometimes feel a sense of emptiness and loneliness when working independently. This can lead them to avoid tasks that require working alone by procrastinating.
B, fear of success
In relationships, the influence of role models can be a significant factor in the development of procrastination. We often aspire to emulate our role models, but it's important to recognize that an idealized, successful role model may not be entirely attainable.
As a result, we may find ourselves procrastinating on certain tasks, feeling that we will never be able to match the example set by our role model, no matter what we do. Over time, we may gradually accept this reality, and procrastination may become more and more serious. Eventually, we may even feel that we have reached a point of giving up on trying to improve.
It is also worth noting that there are individuals in interpersonal relationships who may experience a certain degree of apprehension regarding their own success, due to concerns about how it might affect others. These individuals are often described as highly sensitive persons.
They are highly attuned to the emotional nuances of themselves and others, and may require more time to adjust and adapt to these shifts in mood.
"Fear of success" may also be influenced by a desire to avoid frustrating others with one's achievements, as well as a reluctance to confront emotions like jealousy or hostility, which may be challenging to navigate.
C, Perceiving one's own time
We all have our own unique perception of the speed at which time passes, which is known as "subjective time." It is interesting to note that time perception varies from person to person and according to the situation. For example, happy times often seem to pass quickly, while painful times may feel as if they are dragging on forever.
If there is a discrepancy between a person's perception of time and the actual time it takes to complete a task, it may lead to inaccurate estimates and, subsequently, procrastination.
4. I wonder if I might ask your advice as to the best course of action in this situation.
The book "The Psychology of Procrastination" offers three suggestions for overcoming procrastination.
One possible solution is to set deadlines.
Without a deadline, it can be challenging to maintain focus and progress. Even renowned figures like Darwin, who penned "The Origin of Species" over two decades, have faced this challenge.
2) Consider adjusting your environment and maintaining focus.
It might be helpful to consider that a too comfortable environment could potentially lead to procrastination. If you're looking to be more efficient, it could be beneficial to find an environment that's conducive to productivity.
It may be helpful to try to create an environment free from distractions when studying and working, as this can help to focus on the task at hand.
3) Consider adjusting your mindset and expectations.
Procrastination can sometimes be a result of perfectionism. When expectations are set too high and there is a fear of not being able to meet them, it can lead to a tendency to procrastinate.
Perhaps it would be beneficial to adjust your expectations slightly and complete the task as soon as possible. This will allow you to dedicate more time and attention to refining it at a later stage.
I hope this is helpful for the host. I also wish you all a happy day.
Comments
I totally get what you're saying. We all procrastinate sometimes. It's like we're always thinking more time will magically appear. Maybe setting a strict schedule can help with being on time.
Feeling you on the struggle with time. Sometimes life gets in the way and things pile up. Have you tried breaking tasks into smaller chunks? It might make it easier to tackle them without feeling overwhelmed.
Late payments and missed deadlines are rough, especially when you know better. I've found that automating payments can take some pressure off. That way, you don't have to remember every due date.
It sounds like you're really hard on yourself, but everyone has their moments of weakness. Perhaps focusing on positive reinforcement could be a game changer. Rewarding yourself for small victories might build up your motivation.
The selfblame cycle is tough, but acknowledging that it's okay to make mistakes is crucial. How about setting up reminders for bills and important dates? It might help reduce those stressful moments.